Electrical impulse weight recorder



April 15, 1941. H. A. HADLEY ELECTRICAL IMPULSE WEIGHT RECORDER FiledOct 23, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tm N m m V fiT H T mA. A N AY LB R A HApril 15, 1941- H.A. HADLEY 2,238,363

ELECTRICAL IIPULSE WEIGHT RECORDER Filed 0st. 29/1956 v a Shets-Sheet 20 POSITION INVENTOR 5e HARLAN A-HADLEY ATTORN EY April 15, 1941. H. A.HADLEY 2,238,363

ELECTRICAL IIPULSE WEIGHT RECORDER filed Oct. 29, 1936. 8 Sheets-Sheet 5CA4 '3 G4- G5 CA- F1 E I INVENTOR 5 HARLAN A.HADLEY ATToRNEY April 1941-I H. A. HADLEY 2,238,363

ELECTRICAL IMPULSE WEIGHT RECORDER Filed 001;. 29, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR HARLAN A.HAO| EY WWW ATTORNEY April 15, 1941. H. A. HADLEY2,238,363

I ELECTRICAL IIPULS E WEIGHT RECORDER Fiied Oct. 29, 1935 a Shts-Sheet 5INVENTOR HARLAN A.HADLEY ATTORNEY 8 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR m ATTORNEYApril 15; 1941- H. A. HADLEY ELECTRICAL IIPUI SE WEIGHT RECORDER Filed001'... 29, 1936 H RLANAHADLE Y Q April 15, 1941.

Fig.1l

H. A. HADLEY ELECTRICAL IIPULSE WEIGHT RECORDER a Shts-Sheet 7 INVENTORHARLAN A HADLEY ATTORNEY April 15,1941. 7 A H D Y 2,238,363

ELECTRICAL IMPULSE WEIGHT RECORDER Filed Oct. 29, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 8Fi ll.

INVENTOR HARLAN A.HADLEY BY ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 15, 1941 2,238,363 7ELECTRICAL IMPULSE WEIGHT RECORDER Harlan A. Hadley, St. Johnsbury, Vt.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to Fairbanks, Morse 82 Company, Chicago,111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 29, 1936, Serial No.108,231

Claims.

This invention relates to electrical recorders and has referenceespecially to recorders to be used with scales and employingco-operating control mechanism for setting up and transmitting numericalvalues by means of electrical impulses which are adapted to operate aremotely located electrically controlled recorder.

An important object of the invention is to provide an operating controlunit actuated by an applied force, such as the load on the scale, andadapted to set up the digits of the numerical value on an electricalcommutator or contactor transmitting unit.

Another important object is to provide the electrical contactortransmitting means with associated mechanism adapted to successivelyproduce electrical impulses controlling the set-up of the selecteddigits of numerical values of a series of numerical orders in a remotelylocated recording mechanism.

Another important object is to provide a simplifled electric circuitbetween the contactor transmitting unit and the recorder, whereby thenumber of ,wires employed is greatly reduced over former'constructionsand thus the expense of installation and servicing is materially reducedand greater efficiency effected.

Another object is to provide the recording mechanism with an individualelectric control for the digits of each numerical order denotingnumerical values comprising an electromagnet under control of impulsestransmitted -by its associated digit registered in the electricalcontactor transmitting unit, whereby the particular digit transmitted isset up on the co-operating type wheel of the recording mechanism, whilethe group of type wheels thus set up designates the total numericalvalue.

Another object is to provide a series of-electro-magnetic impulsereceiving units adapted to operate a co-operating series of rotatableinterfitting recorder units for recording numerical values transmittedto the co-operating impulse receiving units.

Another object is to provide electrically op-\ erated universalresetting control mechanism for universally resetting the entire seriesof rotatable recorder units and return them simultaneously contactortransmitting unit which are mounted on the dial housing, with thehousing broken away in order to show the operative parts within.

Figure 2' is an enlarged fragmentary view of a section of the weightselector discs and the 10- eating disc of the weight selector assemblyunit.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical, side elevation of the operatingcontrol unit and commutator transmitting unit with the housing removed.

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, showing theelectrical motor for operating the various mechanisms including theclutch and unlocking mechanism for the contactor fingers and associatedmechanism.

Figure 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, showing theoperating control unit and the group of contactors and contactor fingerscontrolled thereby for closing the several circuits and therebytransmitting the respective digits of the numerical value denotingweight value to the recorder.

Figure 6 is a top plan view, on the line 6-6 of Figure 1, showing therelative co-operative relation of the weightselector discs, selectorfingers and control slides of the operating control unit.

Figure 7 is a top plan view, partly in section,

showing the remotely located recording and printing units, including thetelescopic tubes which carry the type wheels, also the printing ribbon.

Figure '8 is a longitudinal section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7, showingthe printing ribbon and its mounting together with the printing hammer.Figure 9 is a cross section on the line 9-0 of Figure '1, including the,printing hammer and platen of the recording mechanism.

Figure 10 is a cross section on the line l0l0 of Figure 7 showing one ofthe electrical impulse magnet coils, ratchet mechanism for operating thetype wheels, together with the universal resetting control mechanism,and cooperating mechanism.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric circuit togetherwith the various magnets and solenoids operated thereby.

Referring to the drawings I designates a dial head of a dial scaleof awell-known type as employed with the recorder, having a housing 2, inwhich are located the weight indicating mechanism 3 provided with a dial4 and indicator 5 mounted on an indicator shaft 6, having the beam rod 1operatively connected to the beam, which is not shown. Upon the innerend of the indicator shaft 6 is fixedly attached a weight value selectorunit SU (Figs. 1 and 2), which is shown and fully described in PatentNo. 2,070,011, Recording scale, Harlan A. Hadley and GuldbrandGuldbrandsen, February 9, 1937. This unit SU comprises a series ofspaced skeleton weight selector discs 9, 9, l and II together with alocating disc or star wheel l2 (Fig. 2), all of which discs areassembled together in an integral weight value selector unit SU adaptedto revolve with the indicator shaft 6, the peripheral edges of which areprovided with a series of weight value designating notches. Therefore,in the dial scale illustrated the maximum dial capacity is 10,000pounds, the

dial 4 of which is provided with dial graduations la representing weightvalues in multiples of 50 pounds, the tens disc 8 being provided on itsedge with 200 notches On, each notch denoting a weight value of 50pounds, and the hundreds disc 9 is provided with 10 notches 9a, eachnotch denoting a weight value of 100 pounds each. The thousands disc I0is provided with 9 notches Illa of a weight value of 1,000 pounds each,while the ten thousands disc I I is provided with one notch I larepresenting the total dial capacity of 10,000 pounds. The locating discor star wheel i2 is provided with 200 notches I20, one notch for eachgraduation of the dial and adapted to position the weight 1 to conformto particular dial capacity require- 1 ments, as may be the dialgraduations.

Weight value selecting mechanism and operating control unit The weightvalue of the load on the scale, as set up by the rotated weight selectordiscs 8, 9, II, II and I2, is transmitted by weight value selectorfingers i3a, i3b, l3c and l3d respectively (Figs. 1, 3 and 6), asdescribed in the above patent application, which engage and cooperatewith the weight selector discs 6-il, while a special selector finger i6is provided for the locating disc or star wheel, which is thus heldtogether with the other discs locked in the position set up by theweighing mechanism. The selector fingers are in the form of rectangularbars, which extend through an opening 16 in a boss l6 located at theside of the dial head I,

to which is attached an L-shaped bracket l1 having mounted thereon amain assembly frame l8 provided with spaced longitudinal side bars l9and 20, surmounting spaced upright supports 26a and 20b, and spacedcross bars 2! and 22, the whole structure forming an assembling unit forthe weight value transmitting or commutator unit CU, enclosed in ahousing H. In the cross bars 2! and 22 there are slidably mounted intransverse spaced slots 23 and 26 respectively, a series of controlslides 25a, 25b,125c and 25d forming in their entirety an operatingcontrol unit OCU adapted to control the setting up of numerical values,in this case denoting the total weight value of the load, as hereinafterdescribed together with a locating control slide 26 adapted by means ofthe engagement of its co-operating selector finger H with the locatingdisc l2 in looking the weight value selector unit in a fixed position aspreviously described. These various control slides co-operate withresilient means i3a-l3d and locating selector finger movement of theselector fingers Re, I31), I and lid and to the discs 8, 9, l0, H and I2respectively and their engagement with the discs in selecting thenumerical or weight values set' up by the discs, which control unitslides of the operating control unit OCU are shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6in their retracted orinoperative position. The operating control slides25a25d and 26 are connected to the weight selector fingers I4 by meansof adjustable connectors 21, which serve to permit accurate adjustmentof the position of the notched inner ends 28 of the selector fingers(Figs. 1 and 6) with relation to the notches and steps of the discs.

In order to advance and retract the various selector fingers so as toco-operate with the weight selector discs in setting up the weight valueof the load, a U-shaped selector slide control bracket 29 (Figs. 3 and5) is provided, which is pivotally mounted on a rod 29a seated in thelongitudinal side'bars i9 and 20 of the main assembly frame l9 of thecommutator unit CU The side arms 30 of the'control bracket 29 areprovided at their upper ends with spaced fingers 3|, between each pairof which is mounted a circular grooved member 32 secured to each end ofa rotatable control rod 33, which extends through an elongated slot 34in each operating control slide 25a-d and weight value locating controlslide 26 and is adapted normally by engaging one end of the slot 34 tohold the selector fingers in their inoperative positions, out of contactwith the weight selector discs, so as to permit the discs to rotatefreely with the indicator shaft while the weighing mechanism is inoperation.

The control bracket 29 (Figure 3) is provided with a depending forkedoperating member 3|. which is formed with spaced arms 35a secured to thebracket rod 29a. The spaced arms 35 have spacers 35b and carry attheirlower end: a roller 38 adapted to engage a semi-circular cam 31,which is secured'to a clutch operatinl shaft 39 having its inner endattached to a standard clutch 39 carrying a clutch member (not shown)and having its outer end journaled in an upright standard 40 mounted onthe base plate 4|. The outer end of a drive shaft 42, which extendsthrough an annular clutch cover cap 39a, is keyed to the end of anintermediate shaft 42a carrying a co-operating clutch member (not shown)which shaft in turn is geared to the motor shaft ofa reduction motor Min circuit with an electrical source E (Fig. 11), and

adapted to run continuously during the weight value transmitting andrecording operations. Thus by operation of the control bracket 29 themovement thereof is adapted to alternately lock and release all theselector slides at the proper time to permit them to set up the selectedcontactor arms 86 of the respective 'contactor assemblies CAI to 4.Pivotally mounted in a "standard 43, which is attached to the base plate(Fig. 3), which means is adapted to control the hold S-l, which is incircuit with the source of aaaasea electricity E and adapted whenenergized, as previously described, to raise the outer end of the clutchcontrol arm 44, thus releasing the detent 45 from the clutch 39 andpermitting the clutch to rotate with the shaft 38. Rotating with theshaft 38 and attached to its outer end by its hub 49a is a switchcontrol disc 49, while a collar 49a is mounted on the end of the shaft38. The disc 49 is provided with an elongated raised peripheral portion50a and an adjacent elongated recessed portion 50b, the raised periphery56a being adapted to rotate operatively in a contra clockwise direction,engaging and pressing in its operative cycle a roller which rides on theraised periphery 50a. and is carried by the lower arm 52 of a resilientswitch control member 53 adapted to close and operate a sensitiveelectric switch SW--|, which is in circuit with the contactor assembliesCA| to 4 and the impulse units IUI to IU4, while in the inoperativeposition of the disc 49 the roller 5| travels freely in the recessedperipheral portion 50b. Upon the actuation of the switch by theelongated raised peripheral portion 560. the switch is held closed for asustained interval in order to permit the current to be transmitted tothe contactor assemblies CA and impulse units IU and thereby render themboth electrically operative after which the switch is held open for asustained interval by the roller 5| passing into the elongated recessedportion 56b and stopping there while the disc 49 is locked in itsinoperative position (Fig. l). The resilient switch control member 53comprises primarily a de pending leaf spring 54 having the lower arm 52attached thereto and its upper end secured to an upper arm 55 which ispivotally mounted on a stud 56 secured to a downwardly extending switchplate 51, upon which is mounted the sensitive electric switch SW|,operated by a con- 1 tact plunger 58.

After the electrifying of the contactor assemblies CA and furtherrotation of the shaft 38, the cam 31 is carried out of engagement withthe roller 36 of the controlslide bracket 29, thereby releasing thecontrol rod 33, so that it is no longer effective in holding theoperating control slides 2511-2511 and locating control slide 26 in alocked position. The selector slides are thereby freed and the selectorfingers |3a|3d are thus permitted to be advanced into engagement withthe weight value selector discs 8-|2, as set up by the weighingmechanism, under control of a series of retractile coiled springs 59,each of which is attached at one end to a depending arm 60, carried byits respective selector slide and secured at its other end to alaterally extending lug 6| on the end wall |8a of the main frame IS. Aretarding arm 62 fixedly secured to the inner upright frame support a(Figs. 3 and 4), and engaging the inner surface of the switch controldisc 49 serves to retard and control the switch control member 53 entersthe recessed peripheral portion 50b, thereby opening the switch SW-| andconsequently the circuit to the contactor assemblies CA| to 4 andimpulse units IU to IU4. At this point the inner end of the clutchcontrol arm 44 is raised together with the core piece 48 of the solenoidS-l by means of a retractile coiled spring 63 attached to the clutchcontrol arm 44 and a lateral stud 63a on the end wall |8a of the mainframe l8, whereby the outer end of the arm is lowered carrying theclutch detent into the clutch recess 46 and locking the clutch 39.Simultaneously the cam 31 engages the roller 36 carried by the controlarm 35 of the selector slide control member 29 and swings the armoutwardly; carrying its control rod 33 into engagement with the outerends of the slots 34 of the operating control slides 25a--d and 26,(Fig. 3), which results in withdrawing the selector fingers |3a--d andI4 carried by the selector slides from engagement with the selectordiscs 8, 9, III, N and I2 (Figs. 1 and 2), and consequently locking theslides and fingers in their inoperative positions, which are thus heldready for subsequent operation.

Electric impulse weight value transmitter For the purpose oftransmitting the weight values registered by the weight selector discs8-H (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) a series of electrical contactor assemblies CA|to .4 are under control of the operating control slides 25a--25d (Fig.3) and are grouped together and form an electrical transmitter orcommutator unit CU (Figs 3 and 5), which is enclosed by a detachablehousing H. Each contactor assembly CA is comprised of an insulatingsector strip 64 having on one side a contactor assembly CA is separatedfrom its ad-' joining assemblies by an insulating sector '69 of suitableinsulating material, one of which is mounted on each side of thecomplete commutator unit CU. The various contactor assemblies CA arefixedly mounted together on insulating tubes HI inserted in co-incidingtransverse openings 1| in the contactor assemblies CA, in which tubesare inserted contactor assembly tie rods I2, which are secured in oneunit by lock nuts 13, while spaced commutator rods 14 are inserted insimilar insulating tubes 15 disposed in transverse openings '|6 in. theends of all the contactor assemblies CA of the commutator unit CU. Thecommutator rods 14 are mounted in openings 11 in the spaced upper archedsections 19 of the commutator frame CF, which is mounted on the,cross'bars 2| and 22 of the main frame l8 below, while locking collars19 secured by set screws are mounted on the commutator tie rods 14 ateach side of the commutator unit CU, and

tions 19, and serve to fixedly hold the commutator unit in its properposition in the frame OF.

All the common contact sectors 99 are joined together in an opening 9|at the tip 92 of each contact sector lug 65a by a common lead wire 99secured in each opening and in circuit with the source oi electricity E(Fig. 11), while each impulse contact sector 99 is provided with animpulse sector lug 96a to which one of the lead wires mt-99d isconnected, and leading to a cooperating magnet of each impulse. unitIU-I to IU-l in the recorder R, as is fully shown in the circuit diagramin Fig. 11.

The various impulse units control wires (Figs. 3, 7 and 11) includingthe auxiliary impulse unit lead wires rs-89d and resetting unit controlwires RU-a and RU-b, seven wires in numher, are all assembled in onecable CB and by this means the number of wires carried by the cable tothe recorder R. is considerably reduced over the number ofwires'generally required in similar apparatus, which is a decidedadvantage in transmitting the current to a distant point, as well as insimplicity of construction resulting in a reduction in the cost ofinstallation.

Located below the contactor assemblies CA-I to 9 are a series of spacedand paired circuit closer contactor fingers 95a and b, one pair beinsecured to the upper end of each contactor arm 99 (Figs. 3 and whicharms are pivotally mounted on a transverse pinion rod 91, inserted inthe lower side bars 99 of the commutator frame CF, which pinion rod 91is held in position by locking collars 99. The contactor arms 99 arespaced apart by spacers 99 freely mounted on the pinion rod 91, and areheld in position by fixed locking collars 9|, while each contactor armcarries at its lower end a spur gear sector 92, which is disposed aboveits co-operating weight selector slide 25a-d and meshes with a toothedrack 99 carried on the upper edge of the co-operating weight selectorslide, by the movement of which each contactor arm 99 is swung in an areproportional in its amplitude to the movement of its co-operating weightselector slide under urge of the co-operating weight selector fingersetting up the particular weight value registered by the associatedweight selector disc. The circuit closer contactor fingers 95a and 95bhave two spaced cup-shaped wiping contactor tips 99a and 9912, whichcontactor fingers are electrically connected but physically separated byan insulator 99 adapted to prevent the current from entering the otherparts of the commutator unit. The fingers 95a and b are secured byrivets 96a and b to the fingers 99, the contactor tip 94a being adaptedin its movement to engage and contact the common contactor sector 65 andthe contactor tip 996 at the same time engaging the fingers 99 of theimpulse contactor sector 99 (Figs. 3 and 5), shunting the current bymeans of the upper rivets 96b and thereby closing the circuit leadingtherefrom to and energizing an associated electrical magnet in therecorder R as hereinafter described.

In operation as each contactor arm is swung in its arc over theco-operating contactor assembly CA its common contactor tip 990 willengage the continuous common contactor sector 99. while its co-operatingimpulse contactor tip 99b will pass over and contact as many contactorfingers 99 of the impulse contactor sector 99 as there are units to beset up in the particular numerical order by the weisht selectormechanism. One electric impulse is thus transmitted to the electricalmagnet 01 the associated impulse unit IU of the recorder R each time inits travel the particular impulse contactor tip 94b contacts a contactfinger 99 and thereby closes the circuit, each digit column are made,'and the total weight value of the load is thus transmitted for record--ing to the recorder R.

Electrical impulse recorder spaced arms I99 of each frame is mountedone.

of a series of aligned electrical impulse units IU--I to 9.

Each impulse unit IU is comprised of a magnet coil III-4, a U-shapedcore-member I99 formed of laminated soit iron plates, which is mountedon spaced pins llibetween the upper ends I99 of each pair oi. supports99, together with an armature member I91 likewise formed of laminatedsoft iron plates secured by the elongated side arms I99, which arepivotally mounted on a pin I99 carried by the side arms and held inspaced, lateral upper arms II9 of the frame 99. The armature member- I91in operation is attracted and momentarily held by the associatedcore-member I99 when electrically energized, under influence oi thecurrent impulse, which is transmitted to the particular magnet I9I9 fromthe commutator unit CU under control of the particular operating controlslide 25a25d as previously described. In its inoperative position thearmature member I91 is normally held in an elevated position (Fig. 10)under control of a retractile coiled spring Ill secured to a pin H2 inthe side arms I99 and a pin III secured in the lower spaced, lateralarms 9.0! the frame 99. A copper flapper plate 9 interposed between theimpulse magnet coil III-9 and the armature I91 of each impulse unit isflexibly mounted by its inner end 9 to the inner arm of the core-memberI99, and is adapted to prevent the armature I91 from sticking to thecore-member I99 during the energizing of the particular magnet coilI9I-9 and thus permit a succession of impulses to be separately anduninterruptedly transmitted. Disposed opposite the aligned impulse unitsIU and spaced therefrom is an electrically operated universal resettingcontrol unit RU, which is adapted to simultaneously reset all therecorder units or the recording mechanism upon completion of therecording operation, as will be hereinafter described.

Located between the aligned impulse units IU-I to 9 and the reset unitRU is a series of longitudinally disposed and interfitting telescopictubes T-I to 9 (Figs. '1 and 8), which are journaled in and freelyrotatable contra-clockwise in longitudinally disposed, spaced posts II1secured to an elongated supporting frame II9. Each tube has mounted onits outer end a recording type wheel 'I'W-l to 9, which is rotatablewith its particular tube, thetype wheels representing respectively theunits,. tens, hundreds, and thousands digits, each wheel being providedon its periphery with a series of type numerals TN, 0 to 9. Eur thepurpose of rotating each tube T--l to 9 there is fixedly secured on itsinner end a ratchet drum IIO which is provided with two spaced, annularratchet sections I20 and I2'I adapted respectively to rotate and lockthe particular tube at each rotation thereof. The tube rotating ratchetsection I20 of each of the units, tens, hundreds, and thousands impulseunits IU is provided with a series of nine teeth, each one representinga digit from 1 to 9 of the number transmitted from the commutator unitCU to the associated impulse unit IUI to 4 (Figs. 7 and 10) and anelongated flat-faced tooth representing (Fig. while the tube lockingratchet section I2I is provided with ten teeth.

In order to actuate the tube rotating section I20 each magnet armatureI01 carries on a shaft I01a located at the outer end of its side armsI00 9. pivotally mounted depending actuating dog.

I22 (Figs. '1 and 10) held in a central position by spacers I22a. Thehooked end I23 of the dog is resiliently held in contact with the teethof the tube ratchet section I20 by means of a leaf spring I24 which isheld in a bracket I25, while the downward movement of the dog is limitedby a vertical stop post I20. Thus in operation the hooked end I23 of thedog I22 is adapted to engage one of the cooperating teeth of the tuberatchet section I20 and to turn the cooperating tube TI to 4 and onenumeral TN of its type wheel TW--I to 4 each time the associatedarmature I01, which is under' control of its cooperating magnet coilIOI4 when energized by an electrical impulse, is attracted and the dogI22 consequently raised to engage and actuate one of the teeth.

At each turning of a particular tube TI to 4, a tooth of the tubelocking ratchet section I2I is engaged by the toothed end I21 of avertically disposed tube locking dog I20, which is in an opposedposition to the actuating dog I22 pivotally mounted on a shaft I23carried in the spaced arms I30 of a bracket I3I attached to the frameH0. The toothed end I21 is normally held in successive engagement withthe teeth of the locking ratchet section I2I by a coiled spring I32encircling the shaft I20 (Fig. 10), by which means'the tube is securelyheld at each turn and the particular set up numeral of the cooperatingtype wheel 'I'WI to 4 is thereby properly registered and aligned at theprinting station P (Figs. 8 and 9). I

The universal resetting control unit RU (Figs. '1 and 10) providesmeansfor all releasing the tubes TI to 4 from their set up positionsunder control of the impulse units IU-I to 4, as has been previouslydescribed. This unit is controlled by a manually operated electricswitch RS (Fig. 7), and is comprised of a solenoicl I33 mounted in aframe I34 located between the arms of a laminated U-shaped core-memberI35 held in the frame by spaced pins I30, and having also a laminatedarmature I31 slidably mounted in the extended side arms I30 of the frameI34 and limited in its outward movement by transverse stop pins I30carried by the side arms I30. The whole unit is attached to spaced angleplates I40, which are secured to a supporting frame I attached to thebase plate 01. The resetting solenoid coil I33 (Fig. 10) is providedwith an armature rod I42 inserted therein, which is secured by a pin I43to the armature I31 and is adapted to slide freely in an opening I44 inthe base of the core-member I35. A copper flapper plate I45 flexiblyattached by its lower end to the inner side of the armature I31isadapted to prevent the armature from sticking in its operation. The

armature rod I42 is inserted in an expanded coiled spring I40, which isinterposed between the solenoid coil I33 and the armature I31, whichspring is adapted normally to urge the armature rod I42 forward ,to'itsadvanced or inoperative position as shown in Figs. 7 and 10. The outerend of the armature rod I42 is also provided with a transverselydisposed universal resetting control rod I41 fixedly secured therein bya set screw I43, which extends longitudinally in front of the entireseries of impulse units IU--I to 4.

The function of the universal resetting control rod I41 (Fig. 10) is toactuate mechanism adapted to reset the various tubes TI to 4 and typewheels TW-I to 4 and return them to their zero or inoperative positions(Fig. 10). This is accomplished by the universal engagement andcooperation by the universal resetting control rod I41 with a pin I40vertically mounted on the toothed end I21 of each resiliently held tubelocking dog I20, when the solenoid coil I33 is energized by the manualoperation of the resetting control electric switch RS at the completionof the recording operation. Then under control of the energized solenoidcoil I33 the armature rod I42 is pulled inwardly, which movement carriesthe universal resetting control rod I41 along with it and causes thecontrol rod to tip forward simultaneously all the tube locking dog pinsI49, thereby releasing the toothed end I21 of all the tube locking dogsI20 from the engaged teth of all the ratchet tube locking sections I2I.'Upon release'of the locking dogs I20 each of thetubes TI to 4 isautomatically turned back to its zero or inoperative position undercontrol of a retractile coiled spring I having one end attached to thetube supporting frame H0 and the other end to a wire I5I, passing over agroove I52 in a pulley I53, which is rotatably mounted between fixedspacers I53a disposed on a longitudinal, rotatable shaft I54 secured inthe spaced, vertical arms I55a of a standard I55 mounted on the baseplate 01 (Figs. 7 and 10). The other end of the wire I5I is secured by aset screw I50 to a drum I51 carrying a radially extending stop pin I50and spaced from the ratchet drum H9, the drum. I 51 being fixedlysecured to the inner end of each tube, the wire traveling in an annulargroove I50 therein, while below each drum I51 is an L-shaped stop memberI00, which serves by the engagement of the stop pin I53 Printingmechanism The printing mechanism PM (Figs. 7, 8, and

, 9) is arranged to co-operate with the type wheels TW-I to 4 at the endof the cabinet RC and includes an L-shaped printing hammer IOI, which ispivotally mounted in spaced bosses I02 attached to the top I03 of thecabinet RC. At the end of the upper arm I04 of the printing hammer IOIis the hammer head I05, on which is an operating knob I00, while belowis a platen I01 inserted in the hammer head, covered by a resilientbuffer I00 and secured therein by a transverse pin I 09. Below theplaten I01 is an opening I10 provided with bevelededges MI in thecabinet top I03, in which opening the type wheels TWI to 4 are setclosely together and are adapted to be rotated to their set up position.Adjacent to the opening I18 and aligned therewith are disposed in spacedbosses I12 two rollers I13, over which and the intervening printingtable section PT of the cabinet top, forming the printing station P, aninked ribbon I14 is adapted to travel. The ribbon I14 is carried byopposed spools I15 and I18 passing through opposed openings I140; and bin the printing table PT, which spools are mounted on spindles I11carried by upright standards I18 and I19, each spindle being provided onits inner end with an expanded coiled spring I80 adapted to hold the hubI8I of the spindle in yielding engagement with a boss I82 on eachstandard. The depending lower arm I83 of the printing hammer I8I has itslower end pivotally attached to one end of a coiled spring I84, theother end of which is attached to the standard I18. Pivotally mounted onthe lower arm I83 is a link I85, which is pivotally connected to aratchet arm I88, pivotally mounted on the spindle I11 of the spool I15and carrying a spring actuated pawl I81 adapted to engage a ratchetwheel I88, which is secured to the spindle I11 and under control of theprinting hammer lower arm I83 so as to be actuated on each backwardstroke of the arm I83 to turn the ratchet wheel I88 and the spool I15and thus feed forward the ribbon from spool I15 to the spool I15.

In printing a record of the weight value of the load as set up by thetype wheels TWI to 4, the imprint is made by the platen I61, undercontrol of the manually operated knob I88, being pressed thereby on aticket TK or sheet of paper inserted at the printingstation P betweenthe platen I61 and the inked ribbon I14 above the type wheels TWI to 4.

Cycle of operation of the recorder operating units After the weight ofthe load has been established and the weight value set up on the weightvalue selector unit SU (Figs. 1 and 2), the operation of the variousunits of the recorder is initiated by the successive manual operation ofthe electric line switch LS and the operating switch OS in circuit withthe electrical source E, which momentarily energizes the solenoid S-I(Figs.

3 and 4). Then under control of the core-member 48 of the energizedsolenoid SI the clutch control arm 44 attached thereto is raised,thereby releasing the rotatable clutch 39, which carries the controldisc 49 and is operated by the continuously operating motor M.

As the disc 49 starts to rotate in a contraclockwise direction theroller carried by the switch control member 53 rides up on the raisedperipheral portion 50a, thereby causing the switch control member 53 toactuate the switch SWI, which is in circuit with the series ofelectrical contactor assemblies CA-I to 4 and the magnet coils IOI-4 ofthe impulse units IU-I to 4, thereby transmitting the current directlyto both the contactor assemblies CA and the impulse units IU andrendering them electrically operative.

When the clutch rotates a little farther it moves the attached cam 31free from engagement with the roller 36, carried by the pivoted selectorslide control bracket 29 and normally locking the operating controlslides 25a--25d and locating control slide 26, thereby freeing thebracket 29 and releasing it from the locked control slides. Thus underurge of the coiled springs 88 the operating control slides are permittedto move forward, carrying the weight selector fingers Ito-Nd andlocating finger I4 attached thereto into operative engagement with thepreviously set up weight value selector discs 8- and locating disc I2 ofthe selector unit SU. As the selector slides move forward the contactorarms 86 of the commutator transmitting unit CU, under ontrol of the rack83 carried by each operating control slide Hit-25d, are moved in an arcproportionately to the movement of the slides and in their travel thecontactor arms 88 engage continuously the common. contactor 85 andsuccessively the number of impulse contactor fingers 88 of eachcontactor assembly CA, as set up by the weight value selector fingersI3a-I3d, to designate the required digits for each contactor finger 88of the co-operating contactor assembly CA in order to close the circuittherefrom and to thus transmit an electrical impulse through the cableCB to the associated impulse units IUI to 4. Thus each time anelectrical impulse is received by one of the magnet coils IlII--4 of animpulse unit IU it moves one tooth of the ratchet drum I I9 and rotatesthe co-operating tube T and attached type wheel TW to set up one typenumeral thereon at the printing station P. Accordingly, for example, iffive impulses are transmitted to a particular magnet coil IOI4, the coilis energized five times, which causes fiv teeth of the ratchet drum II8to be moved and thereby set up the numeral 5 on the type wheel TW. Whenthe total weight value of the load has thus been set up on the typewheels a ticket TK is inserted at the printing station P and the knob ofthe printing hammer is manually operated and a printed record is made onthe ticket.

When the printed record has been made the recording mechanism and typewheels TW are cleared and reset by operating the resetting switch RS,which energizes the universal resetting control unit RU, causing theresetting control rod I41 to simultaneously release the locking dogs I28from the various ratchet drums H8 and thereby free the associated tubesT and type wheels TW and permit them to be returned to their zeropositions under the urge of the cooperating retractile coiled springsI50, when the recorder is ready for further operation.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention it is evidentthat changes and modifications in the construction herein shown anddescribed may be made that would come within the scope thereof and it isnot intended, therefore, to limit the invention to the precise detailsof construction shown.

I claim:

1. In an impulse mechanism of the character described for use with animpulse recorder, re-

ciprocable slide bars, means providing stops adapted for limitingforward movement of said bars, each to an extent corresponding to adigit to be recorded, springs urging said bars toward said stops,cam-actuated means adapted for holding said bars in an initial,inoperative position, and operable to release said bars simultaneously,for independent forward movement toward said stops under the influenceof said springs, and to move said bars backwardly, to said initialposition, electrical means operated by each of said bars during movementthereof, and adapted for producing a number of electrical impulsescorresponding to the extent of individual bar movement as determined bythe stop, and a control device common to said electrical means, arrangedto be operated in timed relation with operation of said cam-actuatedmeans, said control device being adapted to render said electrical meansope'rative to produce impulses during the forward movement of said barsand inoperative to produce electrical impulses during the backwardmovement of said bars.

2. In an electric impulse transmitting device of the characterdescribed, for use in combination with an impulse recorder, a pluralityof independently movable slide bars, means providing a stop for each ofsaid bars adapted to limit movement thereof in one direction, each to apredetermined extent corresponding to a value to be recorded, springsfor moving said bars toward said stops, means for holding said bars inan initial, inoperative position spaced from said stops, for releasingsaid bars for movement under the influence of said springs, and forreturning the bars to their initial position following movement asaforesaid, said means including a member extending transversely of andadapted releasingly to engage said bars, and camming means operativelyconnected to said member and adapted to reciprocate the same in thedirection of bar movement; a plurality of branch circuits, aninterrupter device in each 01 said circuits, each of said devices beingoperatively connected to one of said slide bars and being adaptedotoproduce impulses in number corresponding to the extent of bar movement,said contact devices each including a pivoted contact arm, interengagingteeth on said contact arm and slide bar for rocking said arm, and aseries of spaced contact terminals adapted for successive engagement bysaid contact arm, a supply circuit common to said branch circuits, acontrol switch in said supply circuit, connected for operation by saidcamming means, said switch being adapted to close said supply circuitprior to, and to open said supply circuit following movement of saidguide bars toward said stops.

3. In a device of the character described, a reciprocable slide bar,means providing a stop adapted for limiting movement of said bar in onedirection to an extent corresponding to a digit to be recorded, a springurging said bar toward said stop, an electric circuit, an interrupter insaid circuit including a series or spaced contacts and a reciprocablecontact arm movable along said series, intermittently to close saidcircuit in the production of electrical impulses therein, meansconnecting said contact arm for movement by said slide bar, whereby saidinterrupter is adapted to produce impulses in number correspondingto'the extent 01' bar movement as determined by said stop, a leverengaging said bar and adapted for holding the bar in an initial,inoperative position, said lever being operable to release the bar formovement toward said stop, under the influence of said spring, and torestore the bar to said.initial position, a motor, a cam-shaft drivenfrom said motor, camming means on said shaft, operable to actuate saidlever, and a control switch in series circuit relation with saidinterrupter operable by said camming means, said camming means beingadapted to maintain the control switch in closed condition duringmovement of said bar toward its stop, and to maintain the control switchin open condition during the restoration" of said bar to its initialposition.

4. In a device for transmitting digits to be recorded, a reciprocableslide bar, an adjustably positioned stop adapted to limit movement ofsaid slide bar ther'etoward to an extent commensurate with a digit tobe-recorded, a spring for moving said bar toward said stop, controlcontacts and a contact arm coacting therewith and operatively connectedto the slide bar for reciprocal movement and successive engagement withsaid contacts, said interrupter being adapted to produce impulses insaid circuit in a number corresponding to the extent of bar movement.and a switch operable in timed relation to said control means forconditioning the circuit for impulse transmission during movement ofsaid contact arm only in one direction.

5. In a recording device of the character described, a gang of parallel,independently movable slide bars, means providing a. plurality ofadjustable stops adapted to be selectively positioned to limit movementof said bars to an extent commensurate to numbers to be recorded,

springs for moving said bars toward said stops, longitudinal slotsformed in said bars, a control rod common to said bars and extendingtransversely through said slots, cam mechanism for efiecting lateralreciprocation of said control rod to permit movement of the bars towardsaid stops under the action of said springs and to restore said bars toan initial, inoperative position in spaced relation to said stops, aplurality of branch circuits each'identifled with one of said bars, aninterrupting device in each circuit, operatively connected to the baridentified therewith, said interrupting device being adapted to produceelectrical impulses which, in number, correspond to the extent ofmovement of its related bar, a supply circuit common to said branchcircuits, a switch in said supply circuit, and means connecting saidswitch for operation by said cam mechanism to close said supply circuitprior to, and to open said supply circuit following movement of saidguide bars toward said stops.

HARLAN A. HADLEY.

